Redcar and Cleveland

Redcar and Cleveland's population grew older in the 10 years leading up to 2011. At the same time there were changes in relationships, religion and housing tenure.

The population decreased

In the decade to 2011, the population of Redcar and Cleveland fell by 2.8%, from about 139,000 to 135,000.

The loss of just under 4,000 people means this area's population was the second-most rapidly-declining in the North East and was the fifth most rapidly-declining across England.

In 2011, Redcar and Cleveland was home to, on average, 3.9 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the North East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Redcar and Cleveland

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Redcar and Cleveland increased by four years, from 39 to 43 years.

This industrial area had the second-highest average age in the North East and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 2,600 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 5,000.

About 13% of people in Redcar and Cleveland are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and Redcar and Cleveland by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More people living alone

Redcar and Cleveland saw the North East's largest rise in the proportion of one-person households.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (31%) households in Redcar and Cleveland had only one person, compared with 28% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising an unmarried couple increased from 8.4% to 9.9%.

Across the region, Hartlepool saw the next largest increase in the proportion of one-person households (from 31% in 2001 to 33% in 2011).

During this period, Redcar and Cleveland fell below four local authority areas, including Middlesbrough and Northumberland, to become the North East local authority area with the fifth-lowest percentage of one-person households.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across the North East

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer homes with children

Redcar and Cleveland saw the North East's second-largest fall in the proportion of households with children.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28%) households in Redcar and Cleveland had at least one dependent child, compared with 31% in 2001. The percentage with no children increased from 58% to 61%.

Across the region, only Sunderland saw a greater fall in the proportion of households with children (from 31% to 28%).

Every local authority area across the North East saw a fall in the proportion of households with children, as the regional average fell from 30% to 28%.

During this period, Redcar and Cleveland overtook Sunderland to become the North East local authority area with the fifth-highest percentage of households with children.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the North East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

Redcar and Cleveland saw the North East's joint second-largest rise in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner, alongside Darlington. The largest rise was seen in Northumberland

In 2011, just under one in eight (12%) people aged 16 and over in Redcar and Cleveland said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner, compared with 11% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 53% to 48%.

During this period, Redcar and Cleveland overtook four local authority areas, including Gateshead and Middlesbrough, to become the North East local authority area with the sixth-highest percentage of people who had divorced or separated.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across the North East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Redcar and Cleveland

Redcar and Cleveland saw the North East's third-largest rise in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just under 1 in 19 (5.2%) in Redcar and Cleveland reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 4.5% in 2001. The percentage who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.1% to 6.7%.

Across the region, only South Tyneside (from 4.2% to 5.0%) and Sunderland (from 4.5% to 5.3%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

During this period, Redcar and Cleveland overtook Middlesbrough and Hartlepool to become the North East local authority area with the second-highest percentage of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the North East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Redcar and Cleveland residents that were unemployed increased from 5.2% to 6.6% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under one in two (49%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 48% in 2001. The percentage of Redcar and Cleveland residents that were self-employed increased from 4.8% to 5.9%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 4.5% in 2001 to 5.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Redcar and Cleveland increased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Redcar and Cleveland, the North East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Redcar and Cleveland residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.5% to 1.8% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 3.0%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 1.4% in 2001 to 1.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Redcar and Cleveland remained close to 1.8%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and Redcar and Cleveland by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Redcar and Cleveland

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 22% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 22% in 2001

The number of people in Redcar and Cleveland that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 14,000 in 2001 to about 30,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 9.8% to 22% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased at a similar rate to the average across the North East (from 11% to 23%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Redcar and Cleveland that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 110,000 in 2001 to just over 95,000 in 2011 (from 82% to 70%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just over 10,000 to about 8,700 (from 7.3% to 6.5%).

Just under 600 people (0.5%) said they were Muslim, down from just over 620 in 2001 (0.4%).

The population without a religion in Redcar and Cleveland increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and Redcar and Cleveland by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Redcar and Cleveland, but at a slower rate than in Middlesbrough (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Redcar and Cleveland).

In Redcar and Cleveland, the proportion of private renting increased from 6.2% in 2001 to 12% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Middlesbrough increased from 7.9% to 17%.

Across the North East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 7.2% to 14%.

The rate of social housing in Redcar and Cleveland fell from 23% to 19%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 69% to 67%.

Private renting in Redcar and Cleveland increased by 6.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Redcar and Cleveland, the North East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Redcar and Cleveland

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 99% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 99% in 2001

The number of people in Redcar and Cleveland from the White ethnic groups decreased from just under 140,000 in 2001 to about 130,000 in 2011. As a share of the local population, the percentage remained close to 99%.

Across the North East, the percentage of people from this ethnic group fell from 98% to 95%, while across England the percentage went from 91% to 85%.

The number of people in Redcar and Cleveland from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 830 in 2001 to just under 870 in 2011. Both of these figures represented about 0.6% of the total population at the time of the 2001 and 2011 censuses. The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 450 to just over 850 (from 0.3% to 0.6%).

About 130 people (0.1%) said they were from the Other ethnic groups (Arab or any other ethnic group), up from about 100 in 2001 (0.1%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Redcar and Cleveland remained close to 99%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and Redcar and Cleveland by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Redcar and Cleveland residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 12% to 7.8% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (76%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 63% in 2001. While the percentage of Redcar and Cleveland residents that described their health as fair decreased from 24% to 16%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 12% in 2001 to 7.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Redcar and Cleveland decreased by 4.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Redcar and Cleveland, the North East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Redcar and Cleveland working less than 16 hours increased from 1.5% to 2.7% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 11 (9.0%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 10% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 1.6% in 2001 to 2.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Redcar and Cleveland increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Redcar and Cleveland, the North East and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links